davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-25
m KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE.
Glow Christmas Day 3, Celebrated IN
Those states.

Glow Christmas Day j. Celebrated IN
Those states.
Christmas day is not only the most widels
and universally observed holiday IN tho
Christian calendar. but it is also susceptible
Of a greater variety Of Observance than per-
haps any other holiday. Santa Claus and
the Christmas tree are known and loved Il
al children. in Kentucky and other south
ern states the day Is ushercd in with gum
powder accompaniment I'm the north the
Fourth OF July is made horrible hy the boom
ing Of cannon and the rattle Of fircCrackerS
ia the south these are reserved for Christ
mas morning. Among the country and VII
lage population Christmas DIS the occasion u
q general turnout in fields and woods with
guns and dogs On that day of all days DO
the rabbits. squirrels and quail find them
selves pursued 10y about every man and boy,
both white and c0lorod. who owns or can
borrow an old shotgun biuuderils or shoot
ing iron Of any kind. and tic fields and
woods resound from morn till might wi'h the
echo's II exploding gunpovdor as The hunt
ors stalk up the naples, game The dogs
lend their quota to the dag uo. aAd cH-
citemant. bayug ou the trail Of frightened
foxes and rabbits
ia Tennessee the wise men who made thc
laws in the early days ST tho stat. existence
recognized the merit 0f workmanship, nll
10 encourage this accomp. i-.mant enacted O
law cxemptinr wacer 600 mHra sn.lenlp
from the genera. penalties against other
species OF gambling So that tho men 90 o
village or farm community uaF ronglcg gate
and put up money. quarter of l0el or
turkey. o. the prize to De- carried GI hy the
best shot The iarect is often thn Top of "a
paper cap box about ass large in diameter as
O silver quarter. and thc distance ranges
from twenty-five Co. 100 steps Inc guns
used are long single barrel muzzie loading
rifles. II the match is ~ boz shot or hand
resting the gun against the shoulder With
out q rest the distance is seldom greater
than twenty-five pace and even 90 that dis
tancc The bullets are often punched from
dozen rifles into o space which can be covered
with O silver dollar
These rife shooting matches are now
largely reserved for the Christmas day, AID
arc looked forward 70 al the year round. On
these occasions al the young men who Oo;s5
Of their ability 81 "cut the bulls ESQ three
times cut of Eve gather to banter and ,al.e
the couccit cut q such as tank t-luslltes
crack shots.
Christmas night is largely Ciycn CT 20
"Gddiin' ard dancin' il tho home. C.. TIC
hosp.tablo lakewood aCuthrors, ant esgu IA
the towns and Villages is IL . very conlraun
custom a. have q dane oL Christmas j. lTJ,-t-
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-25

ELLSWORTH ZOrANLS AT CHICAGO. iell.
ton On the 18Th of November. 1880. the
first Abolition convention met at War
saw, " Y. and nominated James q. Bir-
neg and Francis y. Lcmoync In 1914,
Aug 30. they convened again. calling
themselves the Liberty party 40 Buff
falo, y y. and nominated James O.. Bir-
neg and Thomas Morris In 1873 they
fused with the "Banburncrsn of y f.,
York. and at Utica. on the 22d OF June.
nominated Martin Van Buren, and Henry
Dodge. of Wisconsin The latter declined.
and they pat Charles Francis Adams
his place. I'm 1852, calling themselves the
"Free Soil Democracy they convened
Aug Il and nominated John T. Hale, of
New Hampshire, and George ". JulIan.
of Indiana. 10 is curious fact In poiit-
zeal eyOluti0ns that the latter is now
Democrat and an official Of New Mexico
by appointment of President Cleveland
The old party conventions need NOT be
detailed, bat in 1856 new one came into
the field. absorbing tie Ab0it0uists and
nearly an thcold Wh'rs in the north This
was thc Republican party which hcll its
first convention no Pitt-burg Feb. 30.
1856 10 was informal called hy The
Chairmen off state committees in nine
states, and only provided q plan for the
regular convention which met 40 ph.ia-
de.pha i'm June, 1856 For that and the
following eight years every convention
was memorable. bat theIr history is too
recent 90 need repetition here The one
Republican convention. however. which
stands out in history beyond all others,
was that of May. 1860 az Chicago. which
nominated Abraham Lincoln. not one
element of dramatic interest was lacking;
almost every man was there whom the
next few years were 90 make eminent In
craftsmanship. and % add a melancholy
interest, the young, ardent and romantic
Col. Ellsworth was there with his prize
drill zouaves and gave an exhibition of his
So stem before the convention. One year
later he fell mt Alexandria Va
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-25

tial music: gorgeous brigaders in blue and
gold; tall young men In line, shining in brass
War meant 70 mo tumultuous memories Of
Bunker Hill, Crsars Tenth legion, the charge
Of the Six Misunderstanding but this
Pshav, ] wish I were home Let me see.
I1omei Goir country. A tearl-yeS. !; Is a
tear " arc they doing at home, This Is
Christr. -. 1852. Home' Wen, stock
ings on g. oail. candy, turkey. fun. merry
Christmas, and the face q the girl lci' BE-
hind Another toari Yes, | couldn't help il;
wac only H. and there was such a contrast
between Christmas, 1862, On the Rappahan
mock, and Other Christmase-. Yes, there was
girl, ioo-sucb sweet eyes; such long lashcs;
such low, tender voice. Come, move
quickcrl Who goes thercW Shift the rife
from one aching shoulder to the other.
"Helo, johnny, what are you mp TO" The
river was narrow, but deep and swift. 1t
was wet cold, mot freezing cold. There
was no ce-too swift for that.
"Ilello Johnny, what you coughing So
foryn
"Yank, with no overcoot. shoes fun Of
holes, nothing - eat but parched corn and
tobacco, and with the dernod Yankee snow
foot deep there IS nothin left-nothin' lat 20
get up q cough by way Of protestin' against
this Internal treatment Of The body. We uns,
Yank, all have a cough over here. and there's
no sayin which win run Us % hole frat, the
cough or your bullets
The snow still fell; the keen wind. raw and
fierce, cut 70 the bone Il was Gods worst
weather in Gods forlornest, blcakct SPOT a
ground, that Christmas day of ~ on the
Rappcharnock, a half mile below The town
Of Fredericksburg. But como. pick up your
PROSTATE pluck, You shiscring private.
Surely there is enough dampncas around
withou. adding 90 10 your tears.
lets laugh, boys
Hello, johnny"
Hello yourself, Yank"
Merry Christmas. johnny
"Samo to you, Yank'"
Say, Johnny, got anything 70 trade
"Parched corn and tobacco-tbe size q our
Christmas, Yank.'
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-25
ON THE RAPPAHANN0CK.


By John = Paxton, Private, Company q, laah
Pennsylvania Volunteers
There was my old comrade, Sergt. Nelson,
who had gathered somewhat Of evil in the
army, whose Christian virtues were not
highly polished, and who, on occasion,
dropped into profanity as Wegg did into
poetry Now / wonder which Nelson God
will keep, and which Nelson be will throw
away-the rough soldier, or the man at Cold
Harbor who said. "Boys, do you hear BebOut
and Stone calling our names and begging for
waterr We left them at the foot of the bill
wounded that afternoon when we charged
and were repulsed Boys its mighty
risky. There Is no truce tonight, and them
rebs shoot about as fine by starlight as by
day. But I'm going out 10 them. You see,
II you and were lying over there with hole
through us and We called for water 0nd no
one come, though YOU heard Us, we would
curse you all Who wiz 20 with meT 81,
sergeant" "And o." They went. and two
Of them were killed ! wonder which Nelson
God viii keep, which throw away-the Mel
son who was no saint, or the Nelson who
died for man, like Jesus Christ
/ wonder which man is me and which VIII
come to the front and be on top at judgment:
this me in the study here, with an open Bible
before him, who fatty contradicts the other
me, who shivered with cold on the Rappa-
hammock twenty-five years ago.
1t is such funny world You and ] load
our friends down with our aches and nisfor-
tunes and troubles, but when rich old uncle
dies and leaves Us half a million, we do not
load that ON them. On, no. But here am
preaching, so strong is habit. Yet which is
me-this gentle, meek, apologize clergyman,
or that other me Of a quarter Of q century
agoi that other me who wore that faded blue
roundabout hanging on my study wall, with
lieutenant's shoulder straps on II, who wore
that sword and belt there before my eyesf
Which is Ine-this man acquainted with
meekness and piety and aims and grief, or
that me Of the sword and brass buttOned
jacket on the wall, who was acquainted with
war, deviltries, death, reckless daring, loves
young dream, Here happy thought strikes
me: to try on that soldiers jacket and buckle
ON again that sword am going 10 get into
that jacket, so faded, so small for me now;
am going TO buckle on that sword, If II
does compel crowding, bad language, rebel
lion, pains, and being carried off the field
swooning, as some ladies are betimes, because
Of the uproar and rage Of the incommodod
guests within. Wen, it happened on this wise
that found myself shivering on the banks
of the Rappahannock on Christmas Day,
1862, enlisted for three years or during the
Wa, food for yillai.Ous saltr4ter
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-25

"An right; you shall have some Of cur
cG.Teo aud sugar and pork. Boys, find tue
boats
Such boatsl I sec the children sailing them
on the small lakes in our Central Park. Some
Yankee, desperately hungry for tobacco, ill.,
vented them for trading with the JOhnnica
They were hid away under the banks q ih
river for successive relays Of picleis
We got out the boats An old handkerchief
answered for q sail We loaded them with
coffee, sugar, pork, and set the sail. and
watched them slowly creep 20 tho other sLoro.
And the Johuuicsi To see them crowd the
bank, and push and scramble 20 be first 90
seizo the boats, going into the water and
stretching ost their long arms! Then when
they pulled tho boats ashore. and stood in q
group over the cargo, and % hear their CO.
CARNATIONS: "HuITah for hog Say, that's
not roasted re, but genuine coffee. Smci
il. YOU unSn "An1 sugar, too" Then they
divided tho consignment They laughed and
shouted, "Rcckon YOU uns been good 20 we
uns this Christmas Day, Yanks. Then they
put parched corn, tobacco ripe persimmons,
into the boats, and sent them back o. as.
And we chcwed the parched corn, smoked
real Virginia leaf, alto persimmons, which, If
they weren't very filing, at least contracted
our stomachs TO tho size OF our Christmas
dinner And 20 the day passed. We shouted,
"Merry Christmas, johnny" They shouted,
"Samo 70 you, Nank." And we forgot the
biting wind, tho chilling cold we forgot
those men over there were our enemies,
whom il might be our duty 70 shoot before
evening.
We had bridSed the river-spanned the
bloody chasrn. We were brothers, not foes,
waving salutations OF good will in the name
of the Babe Of Bethlehem, on Christmas Day.
In ~ At the very front Of the opposing
armies the Christ Child struck a truce for Us
broke down the wall Of partition, became
orr peace. We exchanged gifts. We shouted
GREETINGS back and forth. We kept Christ
mas, and our hearts were lighter for j. aud
our shiyering bodies were not quite so cold.
Go thou and DO Likewise, push poor debtor.
prosecute 10 quarrel, bear DO grudce. 90
Christmas time; forgive your oncmles, le-
member your morcic- and d0 no, brood over
your misfortune, a. Christmas time u tEe
times are hard DO not let tle children know
il, or Lazarus o. Your doorstep become
aware OK it, go ClIs,ma- time. 10 DIS cee.
despair Cannot yoI De cheerful and brave
10y your lrcsld s., as wo soldiers were ou t.e
Eappahanock On Christmas Day iu n1
shouting GOOD wills To rebels on tAe orUc 'c
sAorei let Us ell shake hands Oh Christmas
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-25
TEA TABLE TALK

The Scotch plaid trousers ar.,,.,
aginary golden youth almost o,,. ~, - y 'na
Glasgow dialect. 's'A t.
"nl'o ~as'coots with evening drs,
not worn to the extent that NAL. 49,. 49, an
orally fashionable. '''''a ga
Newest oyster plates are onlv m.a..,
oysters This is where the .orro., +. ' .'-i
grcoiy diner begins. '' tt
Picturesque Is a great ,,.o..,...
now 10 is used o. descr.boair,.... s,i4
except griddle cakes. '-'ng
Tho signal is up % call in an tho.
olu cages and steel chicken Coma. ~. VIZ
been called "bustlesr '''' pave
Tripod hat racks are now a,s
They originated with the more Il. b.. ~. l-'.
tic Harvard students jay ara,
Fire screens IN stained ana o..,.
glass set m antique Nrou.h. i-.... e- '.''i"i
'ne latest fad of artistic mmiba-. ''.' -'e
Among new mechanical ,o,.of,.
make is a Buffalo Hunt with R,r..' ,.''i
Oh horseback shooting 40 tao n.-...- ' ''..'
The latest art screen. are of o...
carved mahogany. With curtain. .s ~.
Six yellow, tiue, rose color or l,.... , ,'...'
Blocks f9r the Children ar. ,...
ieal utieNs' granite and rough l.ar ..
scry. n
a TOO shiny slk Dat s not ar,.
gentlemen who T.r...- ....f.
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-25
ease, let wrath be forgotten, let quarrels Be

Let charity dispense bounty. Let the rich
man love the poor. Let the lap Of childhood
be- Gllcd with plenty. Let all Rappahan-
nocks Of arrangement, separation, bitter
ucss, unequal lots, opposing interests, lie
bridged by the Babe OF Bethlehem on Christ
mas Day Of ~ And ''be ye kind one 70 ail-
other. tender hearted, forgiving one another
even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven
YOU There / am preaching again, IN
scular journal Of civilization. Yet ! can't
help IT, This Christ born me has thrown oil
and left behind the other me, the old me-
who followed Grant and Hancock to kich-
moud in the wild, mad days OF turbulent
youth have taken of that faded blue
Jacket. and can stretch my arms: ] have I'M
huckled that worn belt and can breathe
freely Come. i1cket come, sword-nang
again On the wall You are my old me- Out
the present. real me Is a man Of peace ana
acquainted with grief; not 50 happy as
saint as he was as a soldier, but still trying
10 do his work. since God didn't send Tor him
at Gettysburg Harper Weekly
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-25
CHRISTMAS THE HAPPlEsT.

Among all our holidays Christmas is the
hapBiest Other days. Like the Fourth of
July and Decoration Day. have patriot
a>sociatiou which ls inspiring, and New
Years Day has an admonitory significance
WHICH, is pathetic But the tradition az
Christmas is moro universal and ideal than
that OF other holidays because 10 is the fest
of fraternity. OF human sympathy and help
fulness. Not only is It's sentiment glory 10
God. but its distinctive gospel is peace on
earth and good will TO man. It is the one
day ia the year on which soiishness is tho
most odious sin. is peculiar observance is
obvious, palpable. active thought OF others.
We all live under the general law OF charity
and of doing good. But this is the day on
which we must make sure that our light
shines SO that men shall STE cur COED works
IIarpers Weekly.
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-25

Of this winter rolled The white capped
breakers against the foundation. OF tle
brighton For TWO days they dashed
against the wallis and llaWed away the
sand, and WHOM the calm came DO was
seen that thco.l building must "c.t 0r le
got as they ly in tie Wild west AID the
forward foundations on Do. -eaWari side
arc ou-, and temporary piles alone sus-
bln tle lush building The bathing
pavilion. which is 40 feet long and %
feet deep. is entirely surrounded hyWater,
and is t0 Doe moved back in t.e same
manner ass the hotel The method adopt
"a is as followed. The structure is to be
Cut into three great sections; triple track
elevated road Will Doe constructed under
each and fat cars run in. then dozen or
more locomotives VIII hitch on, and the
removal effected. NOrkmen are busy 40
the preparations and 30 As expected that
the removal viii he completed in January.
giving ample time 20 rcnt and furnish the
house FOR next season. But Che lest in
formed eng accrs think the advantage
will De but for q few years. and many say
that there Will soon be no COncy Island.
"Ihe waves put 10 there and the waves
W.ll soon take DO away As it is the
great popular resort for Now York and
Brooklyn its destruction VIII De a calan-
ity
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-25
BRIcHT SAYINGS u cHIL0aGN

A little boy hens renosal 600 sn,
Sunday morning for h4nsa dirty me n.
torei "Wc'i 4 wor.d ls face 20 SUNDAY
cool. anyhow -Babyho.i
A bright little lady. whose confidence D..
enjoyed by the editor discovered tno ial
after Thanksgiving that "culhuy aH.e
has seven different kinds ot DAD tsta,'-
Buffalo Express
Little Stuart had spent DDS frt day or
school "What dii you learn wa DIS
antic's question. Didn't learn anything
"Weil. what DID you DO" Didn't DO al}
thing. There was woman wanting o.
know how % spel 'cat and ] toll Der
Alton Telegraph.
There were visitors 40 the Skinner s0hol.
the other day, and a class was put on oElibi
ton wow said the teacher, "nn 500
tell me anything about heat" a small. hll
held up Dis hand "Wel, srf sad OBJ
teacher "Heat expands. cold contract.
VERY good ROW give am example DO
summer Che days are long, iu winter OBJ.
DAYS arc short Great applause o. taa r..
itors. and ths small boy takes las .t-
cago Tribune
Master Freddy thinks himself Lvrlrii.
the least important member of tu I
hold. One evening. after Dee lui ..
bad g0u. 90 bed DOB the nurl.a
thunder shower came un I.. rH
mother. tlnNng they might ha i-'.
by tie storm. WOE. I'D
tlm laa.ug l-t Ono i-
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-25
POLITICAL PlcKlNc8

Sunset C.z and Speaker Car
ass.lt1 address OBJ. Boston public
subject af taru r.l9m
Tho Atlanta Constitution waasto
s0nql ablo lld scandals ...t o.t
palgn next year, and tle contest Wlso
high ground
Tx. Governor rac.arl of Iolmi
is now resident of Iowa, is prop
candidate for the seat 0i Senator
whose term expire, m i,s3
The majority against division n H.7-
Dakota was czlctiy 1000 H.e i-
favor Of 10 in South Dakota Hn l-' '
ine the majority Iu the whole trf'.i
for division.
senator Ingalls, NIGH la.. lsw.e
yertisod move. published IT'D. Non.
Record 4 poet who r0- to con-
wears ago inflicted q long and
inana pos1s on the country DID, tl... '.
Chicago Aews.
The Prohibition national committee ...'-
oide9 fo base representation in ta'
convention oi nest year 9n the vote .H' ''
pollel In ls,5 Thiswill mase tle i.''
ieleeates .04s. Of whom ninety "-"
Penfsylgania. philadelphia tla,
According 20 the Hon. William }.
ditch. onc-teuth OF all tho taA
chustts are paid by the women 80 t,l.
ford. Is. The women pay t"o--''''- ..
taxr. In some towns ile i''
larc-. but for I'D ot that thes' very
arepot by law c.ri1-as, ana A-.' l
III rdm.f..t.aaol Of lll'.e a--i-
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-25
An AnoIocr from The Time.

Charles G.. Francklyn, president Of the
Horn silver Mining company, was az
rested some time ago i'm New York on
suits begun by relatives and associates in
business. al the English and American
newspapers published accounts of the
suits, arrests, etc. Now Mr. Francklyn
proposes to sue The London Times for
libel, and The Times has published an
apology, saying that it was mkinl0rmcd
as to thenature of the proceedings brought
against Mr. Francklyu, which were evil
and NOT criminal, and uncoanccteI with
Mr. Fmncslyus position as president Of
tie Horn Silver Nsnlug company.
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-25

Quo protest and in 1888 bee received
l.c electoral votes 20 So for Adams.
John G.. Calhoun. as candidate for vice
president brought all the Crawford
strength 20 the support is the ticket,
aided not q little Boy Martin Van Buren,
and Churchill G.. Camhrolng. Of New
York, who made a long sc-thern tour
for that purpose. For the next six
teen years. no matter who were candidates,
jackson and Clay were the real leaders Of
their respective parties. and the convention
system was soon established much as we
find il now.
The first regularly called national poll
tical convention was that Of the Anti
Masonic party at Philadelphia in 1890:
there they adopted a platform, but con-
yened again ia Baltimore, sept. %, 1881.
and nominated William Writ for president
and Amos kllmaker, Of Pennsylvania, for
vice president The striking fact about
all the early conventions was that they
were held so long before the election. The
first Wing or national Republican cOnyen-
ton met at Baltimore Dee -, 1881, and
nominated Henry Clay and John Sergeant
The Democrats met in the same city ia
May. 1892. and confirmed the n0minG-
tons OF Jackson, already made by state
legislatures. naming Van Buren, for vice
president Their next convention was rs
early as May, 1875, AMI nominated Van
Buren, and Richard ". johnson. Oddly
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-25
ABOUT CONVENTIONS.
NOMINATING BODIES IN THE UNITED
STATES.

sketch succs sted by TIE Republicans
Designating June 10. 1883, as the Time,
and Chicago IA the Place. of Holding
Their Next National Gathering.
National conventions are so much a
matter of course with the present gen
GRAFTON Of voters that we easily forget
how very recent the invention is. Not
only do we have national conventions OF
three. four or even five political parties,
but Of short horn cattle men, liquor deal
err. farmers, wool growers and dozens
more: and there are critics sarcastic
enough to say that the sheep and cattle
mems conventions show a higher order
% practical sense than those Of the
politicians But plenty of old peO-
pie recall the time when there were
no such conventions, when men were
nominated for the presidency IN free
and easy ways, by cavcEses Of
c0ncrcssmen OF state legislatures that
would now entail utter confusion and de-
feat The evolution and growth OF party
conventions demonstrate TWO very graft
flying facts. That the American people are
far more accustomed 10 acting together
as a great unit, than they once were. and
that there Is none Of that infatuated per
sonal devotion and blind reliance upon
party leaders that was so marked in
CLAY and Jackson times Exactly the
opposite of what our fathers feared is
what has happened the larger the coun-
try grows the easier IL is for its repre-
sentative men 20 come together. and the
people must initiate political movement
or hey win not support it.
George Washington was elected by unan-
im0us consent. without resolution or nom
nation. and while the electors were not
The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-25

Day. Let Us all touch elbows and share viii
our neighbor who needs Us most. Then make
a truce VITA enemies, with care, with fears
with tears and sorrow, and let JOY he uncon
fined on Christmas Day. Let justice softer
into mercy. LIT not hate harden into wrong,
but he transformed into love let ang@